I am a lot of fun. A sharp wit cracks me up . Some people think I’m too honest and get a little put off by my directness. One thing I can tell you is that I can’t stand secrets. I ask a lot of questions and I do like to get a response.
Growing up in a Jewish neighborhood in the Midwest, I wasn’t exposed to very many people who were different than me. I found myself venturing out, making new friends and discovering that diversity was something I need in my life.
Spanish was my favorite class in school and the only teacher that liked me was Mr. Hakim, my Lebanese Spanish teacher. Looking back, I can see now that Mr. Hakim helped me define my calling in life.
In Los Angeles I've worked with diverse communities – as a gang youth counselor, setting up an after-school library with kids in St. Elmo Village, living in Nicaragua and traveling through Central America, working with undocumented Latina pregnant women and families in Los Angeles. And I dedicated 20 years producing performance art for friends in film, theatre and educational videos. I’ve always had a lot of younger artist friends and love to be around the constant creativity, lively conversation, developing projects, youthful spirit and politics.
And, I'm a 420 fan, so glad it's legal in Cali now.
You can’t separate the personal from the political, especially now when the world is going backwards at an overwhelmingly speed.
But I do enjoy life with friends. Dancing, eating, listening to Pablo Milanes, Otis Redding, Nina Simone, Joaquin Sabina or Milton Nacimiento, Simone, Laura Nyro, Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, The Jackson Five when Michael was a little boy, Aretha Franklin, Ann Murray, Barbara Streisand or Enya – to name a few. Enya kept me safe while travelling through Central America.